Danielle L. Schmitt 🔬
@schmittwitt.bsky.social
Cell signaling & metabolism & biosensors. Asst Prof. Cat mom. She/her. Los Angeles. Posts are my own views not my employers.
After spending 1.5 hr driving my sister < 5 miles to LAX I am convinced of two things: 1. I will continue to not travel for Thanksgiving; 2. We need to demand better public transit to LAX. If I dropped my sister off at the transit station, the bus would have been stuck in traffic. People Mover Now!
November 26, 2025 at 5:52 AM
After spending 1.5 hr driving my sister < 5 miles to LAX I am convinced of two things: 1. I will continue to not travel for Thanksgiving; 2. We need to demand better public transit to LAX. If I dropped my sister off at the transit station, the bus would have been stuck in traffic. People Mover Now!
Reposted by Danielle L. Schmitt 🔬
WE JUST KEEP WINNING. (UC President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program RESTORED!!!!)
![On official UC letterhead:
UNIVERSITY
OF
CALIFORNIA
James B. Milliken President
Office of the President
1111 Franklin Street Oakland, CA 94607
universityofcalifornia.edu
CAMPUSES Berkeley
Davis
Irvine
UCLA
Merced
Riverside San Diego San Francisco
Santa Barbara Santa Cruz
MEDICAL CENTERS
Davis
Irvine
UCLA
San Diego
San Francisco
NATIONAL LABORATORIES Lawrence Berkeley Lawrence Livermore Los Alamos
DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
November 18, 2025
Dear Chancellors:
I'm writing with regard to the President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (PPFP) and the program's associated faculty hiring incentive.
As you know, for more than 40 years, PPFP has provided postdoctoral research fellowships, professional development, and faculty mentoring to scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service advance the academic and research missions of the University of California.
Since 2003, UC campuses that hire current and former PPFP fellows into ladder-rank positions have been eligible for a hiring incentive funded by the University that provides support for newly hired fellows for five years. Since the creation of the incentive, more than $162 million has been invested by the University to support PPFP faculty hires. This commitment has enabled our campuses to successfully recruit and retain outstanding faculty across a range of disciplines.
Given the myriad challenges currently facing UC - including disruptions to billions of dollars in annual federal support, as well as uncertainty around the state budget- reasonable questions were raised in recent months about whether the University could maintain the commitment to current levels of incentive funding. After considering a recommendation to sunset the incentive program due to these significant fiscal constraints, I consulted with all of you as well as faculty and campus academic administrators and systemwide Academic Senate leadership.
[continued on next image]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rzn6yramffebefeitqifiqqz/bafkreigiwq5ongzwpj4wqmgjam3yfvhyjnv5e3dbq6cnrrbwblqvs624gq@jpeg)
November 18, 2025 at 10:34 PM
WE JUST KEEP WINNING. (UC President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program RESTORED!!!!)
Reposted by Danielle L. Schmitt 🔬
ICE never left L.A. The military did but they aren't the ones terrorizing the city. Please don't ignore L.A.
ICE has been raiding my neighborhood and surrounding ones for the last couple of weeks now. They commandeered my local church (against the pastor's will) for a staging site and raided supermarkets, parks, Goodwills, bus stops, you name it.
The national media's been silent. So has @mayor.lacity.gov.
The national media's been silent. So has @mayor.lacity.gov.
Engagement on our updates re: ICE kidnappings/fed siege of Los Angeles is significantly lower on Bluesky compared to Twitter. Do ppl on here not care about LA anymore? Are feeds being taken over by liberal commentators? What's going on?
Community members on the ground can't do it all. We need help.
Community members on the ground can't do it all. We need help.
November 19, 2025 at 12:06 AM
ICE never left L.A. The military did but they aren't the ones terrorizing the city. Please don't ignore L.A.
Reposted by Danielle L. Schmitt 🔬
🔬New Preprint Alert 🔬 How is AMPK regulated by oxidative stress? We use functional imaging to uncover spatial regulation of AMPK activity during oxidative stress by LKB1 & CaMKK2. Combining imaging with proteomics & metabolomics, we find AMPK works to promote the cellular redox response.
Spatial regulation of AMPK activity under oxidative stress requires LKB1 https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.17.688926v1
November 18, 2025 at 3:56 AM
🔬New Preprint Alert 🔬 How is AMPK regulated by oxidative stress? We use functional imaging to uncover spatial regulation of AMPK activity during oxidative stress by LKB1 & CaMKK2. Combining imaging with proteomics & metabolomics, we find AMPK works to promote the cellular redox response.
To be clear, Senator Schiff, this is a victory of the faculty associations and unions at the UC, including the UCLA faculty association. The administration of the UC had nothing to do with this or the restoration of funds. This is a fight the faculty have won.
A big victory for the University of California.
And a call to every university across the U.S. to refuse to sacrifice academic freedom to Donald Trump.
Our democracy requires your uncensored voices. And the law is on your side.
And a call to every university across the U.S. to refuse to sacrifice academic freedom to Donald Trump.
Our democracy requires your uncensored voices. And the law is on your side.
November 16, 2025 at 12:53 AM
To be clear, Senator Schiff, this is a victory of the faculty associations and unions at the UC, including the UCLA faculty association. The administration of the UC had nothing to do with this or the restoration of funds. This is a fight the faculty have won.
My parent’s dog is game day ready.
November 15, 2025 at 3:27 PM
My parent’s dog is game day ready.
Reposted by Danielle L. Schmitt 🔬
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
It’s been “time to put up or shut up” for a while. If you feel strongly about something, do something about it that is within your capabilities to do. This weekend I called some senators and donated financially to my local foodbank. And I’ll probably make some more phone calls tomorrow.
November 10, 2025 at 12:37 AM
It’s been “time to put up or shut up” for a while. If you feel strongly about something, do something about it that is within your capabilities to do. This weekend I called some senators and donated financially to my local foodbank. And I’ll probably make some more phone calls tomorrow.
I was a UC PPFP fellow when I was a postdoc at UCSD. This program is invaluable--aside from support for two years of my postdoc, I received excellent mentoring from faculty at the UCs. This fellowship set me up for success and gave me a cohort of fellow postdocs who are now UC faculty. 1/2
A devastating set of decisions on the part of UC leadership to withdraw support from our nationally recognized postdoc program that prioritizes research excellence combined with addressing our university public service mission. www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
UC to Stop Funding Systemwide Postdoc Program
Established in 1984 to encourage women and minority Ph.D.s to pursue academia, the program has attracted right-wing criticism for prioritizing diverse candidates.
www.insidehighered.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:31 AM
I was a UC PPFP fellow when I was a postdoc at UCSD. This program is invaluable--aside from support for two years of my postdoc, I received excellent mentoring from faculty at the UCs. This fellowship set me up for success and gave me a cohort of fellow postdocs who are now UC faculty. 1/2
Reposted by Danielle L. Schmitt 🔬
A devastating set of decisions on the part of UC leadership to withdraw support from our nationally recognized postdoc program that prioritizes research excellence combined with addressing our university public service mission. www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
UC to Stop Funding Systemwide Postdoc Program
Established in 1984 to encourage women and minority Ph.D.s to pursue academia, the program has attracted right-wing criticism for prioritizing diverse candidates.
www.insidehighered.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:53 PM
A devastating set of decisions on the part of UC leadership to withdraw support from our nationally recognized postdoc program that prioritizes research excellence combined with addressing our university public service mission. www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
Reposted by Danielle L. Schmitt 🔬
All those votes are people who, like you, believe in democracy and the constitution.
Remember you are not alone. Keep on fighting for what is right.
Remember you are not alone. Keep on fighting for what is right.
a cartoon of snoopy saying keep fighting
ALT: a cartoon of snoopy saying keep fighting
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:53 AM
All those votes are people who, like you, believe in democracy and the constitution.
Remember you are not alone. Keep on fighting for what is right.
Remember you are not alone. Keep on fighting for what is right.
Today I supported Feeding America, which works with a nationwide network of food banks to provide meals to people in need. I encourage you to support organizations like Feeding America. We’ve got to look out for and help each other! www.feedingamerica.org
U.S. Hunger Relief Organization | Feeding America
Feeding America is a nonprofit network of 200 food banks leading the fight against hunger in the United States. Learn how you can help end hunger in America.
www.feedingamerica.org
November 2, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Today I supported Feeding America, which works with a nationwide network of food banks to provide meals to people in need. I encourage you to support organizations like Feeding America. We’ve got to look out for and help each other! www.feedingamerica.org
🧵
The President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, PPFP, has been a jewel in the crown for faculty development and recruitment at the University of California for years and the results have been an expanded faculty with almost 100% tenure rates — unprecedented success.
November 2, 2025 at 11:00 PM
🧵
Reposted by Danielle L. Schmitt 🔬
The Good Samaritan, by Joseph Highmore, 1744, 📸 by @patricksmith04
November 2, 2025 at 4:49 AM
The Good Samaritan, by Joseph Highmore, 1744, 📸 by @patricksmith04
While SNAP benefits during the government shutdown are being litigated, I encourage you, if you can, do donate to your local food bank or organizations help to feed the hungry. I’ve donated to two local food banks in my area, & plan on donating again in the next few days. www.npr.org/2025/10/30/n...
A judge is set to decide whether SNAP benefits can be cut off on Saturday
A Boston federal judge suggested she was not persuaded by the Trump administration's argument that it is legally barred from using a USDA emergency fund to keep the SNAP benefits coming.
www.npr.org
October 31, 2025 at 2:56 PM
While SNAP benefits during the government shutdown are being litigated, I encourage you, if you can, do donate to your local food bank or organizations help to feed the hungry. I’ve donated to two local food banks in my area, & plan on donating again in the next few days. www.npr.org/2025/10/30/n...
Today this overpass featured someone in a penguin costume dancing and encouraging everyone to vote next week. Check if there’s an election in your city or state next week, and make your voice heard!
October 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Today this overpass featured someone in a penguin costume dancing and encouraging everyone to vote next week. Check if there’s an election in your city or state next week, and make your voice heard!
I have donated money to two local food banks serving my community. If you can, I encourage you to help your community.
US Department of Agriculture says no food aid benefits will be issued next month reut.rs/3WohHMk
US Department of Agriculture says no food aid benefits will be issued next month
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Saturday that food benefits under one of the country's biggest social assistance programs will not be issued next month amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
reut.rs
October 26, 2025 at 11:32 PM
I have donated money to two local food banks serving my community. If you can, I encourage you to help your community.
Reposted by Danielle L. Schmitt 🔬
I’ve been regularly volunteering at a food bank for about a year and please, if you want to help, consider donating cash.
For $3, they can provide 15 meals and what they can do with the money you might spend on a few cans can be converted to vastly more in fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, or meat.
For $3, they can provide 15 meals and what they can do with the money you might spend on a few cans can be converted to vastly more in fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, or meat.
October 26, 2025 at 9:53 PM
I’ve been regularly volunteering at a food bank for about a year and please, if you want to help, consider donating cash.
For $3, they can provide 15 meals and what they can do with the money you might spend on a few cans can be converted to vastly more in fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, or meat.
For $3, they can provide 15 meals and what they can do with the money you might spend on a few cans can be converted to vastly more in fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, or meat.
Reposted by Danielle L. Schmitt 🔬
UPDATE: Following court order, UC has posted the UCLA settlement proposal on its website: ucop.edu/communicatio...
October 25, 2025 at 12:07 AM
UPDATE: Following court order, UC has posted the UCLA settlement proposal on its website: ucop.edu/communicatio...
Just some girlies trying to get these grants finished. And prep for class tomorrow.
October 23, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Just some girlies trying to get these grants finished. And prep for class tomorrow.
I decided to switch from Spotify to Tidal, and I'm already a fan of Tidal. Aside from lossless audio quality (which, to be fair, Spotify has now) the app-generated playlists are more diverse and introducing me to artists I've never heard of.
October 21, 2025 at 8:48 PM
I decided to switch from Spotify to Tidal, and I'm already a fan of Tidal. Aside from lossless audio quality (which, to be fair, Spotify has now) the app-generated playlists are more diverse and introducing me to artists I've never heard of.
We're updating our lab website which means...lab photo day!
October 20, 2025 at 11:49 PM
We're updating our lab website which means...lab photo day!
My uncle attended the No Kings protest outside the NIH. Both MD senators attended. I’m so thankful to everyone who has consistently stood up for the NIH.
October 18, 2025 at 3:56 PM
My uncle attended the No Kings protest outside the NIH. Both MD senators attended. I’m so thankful to everyone who has consistently stood up for the NIH.